Incendiary projectile.



A I No Drawing.

Toall whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, JAMES FRANK BUCK- 'INGHAM, a subject of the King of England, residing int-he county of Warwick, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incendiary Projectiles, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to incendiary bullets, shells, and the like of the kind in which a hollow bullet or shell case contains phosphorus which, due to the heat of the explosion of the cartridge, melts and flows out through orifices in the back or sides of the bullet. A bullet of this kind is described .I in the specification accompanying my prior T patent application No. 17 8,264. It is the object of the present invention to provide simple means for enabling the heat to be conducted along the interior of the bullet more quickly, so that it operates more rapidly than would otherwise be the case.

' 'elapses afterjfiring of the cartridge before A theflame issues from the bullet. By the present invention this period is reduced and ,i the combustion may be added to.

According to this invention, there is 1 mixed withthe phosphorus a spongy or jmore'or less finely divided material which serves to conduct the heat rapidly along the interior of the bullet. This substance does not necessarily have any chemical action upon. thecombustible substance of the bullet, but it may be combustible when it issues from the bullet. I As an example, powdered 0r finely div vided aluminium or other metal may be used. 1- The degree of division depends largely upon the size ofthe bullet or shell. Inthe case of a small bullet the heat conducting substance would be very finely powdered. In a large shell the substance might be in the form of shots or wire. The result in both j cases is that the heat at the rear of the bullet is more quickly conducted along the interior than isotherwise the case. Thus the a phosphorus is caused to be melted more j Gopies of this patent may be obtained for Specification of Letters Patent.

With. some kinds of bullet a certain period STATES PATENT OFFICE.

INCENDIARY PROJEC'IILE.

Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

Application filed July 2, 1917. Serial No. 178,265.

quickly and starts to issue sooner from the bullet than would otherwise be the case. A smaller outlet may be employed and instead of obtaining .a large flame directly the cartridge is fired as is the case when a large outlet is used there is a'smaller flame at the commencement and this is more sustained throughout the flight of the bullet.

I am aware that incendiary projectiles have been proposed containing an incendiary composition which includes finely divided metallic substances, but these sub stances were used for their combustible properties and not as heat conductors merely to assist the melting of the remaining contents.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a hollow projectile of the kind described provided with a discharging orifice, a phosphorus filling and a heat conducting substance mixed with the phosphorus filling.

2. In a hollow projectile of the kind described provided with a discharging orifice,

'a phosphorus filling and a spongy heat conducting substance mixed with the phosphorus filling.

3. In a hollow projectile of the kind described provided with a discharging orifice, a phosphorus filling and a finely divided heat conducting substance mixed with the phosphorus filling.

4. In-a hollow projectile of the kind described provided with a discharging orifice, a phosphorus filling and powdered aluminium mixed with the phosphorus filling.

5. In a hollow! projectile of the kind described, a phosphorus filling and finely divided aluminium mixed with the phosphorus filling.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES FRANK BUOKINGHAM.

Witnesses:

ALBERT BROWN, ANNIE L. WADE.

five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

